Organizations & Systems

Elementary & Middle School

Sections

What is the best indicator in elementary and middle school that students will be ready for high school? How is attendance related to school performance in the primary grades? How are eighth-graders using the GoCPS system for high school admission? Since 1990, Consortium researchers have explored these questions, and many more. Here’s what we’ve learned about elementary (K-8) schools:

Key Findings

Predicting Performance

Student Growth is Linked to the 5Essentials

GoCPS Applicants and Offers

Chronic Pre-K Absence

Noncognitive Factors Affect Performance

GPA & Attendance Predict HS Performance

Students’ GPA and attendance in middle grades can help predict (but do not determine) their performance in high school.

Pagination

Current Research

Quantitative study

English Learners in CPS

CPS is serving an increasing population of English Learners (EL), almost 20 percent as of the fall of 2018. Publicly reported statistics on academic achievement show that EL students are lagging behind their peers. The UChicago Consortium is focusing on an in-depth examination of the performance of EL students from pre-k through the elementary grades.

For more information about this study, contact the Principal Investigator:

Policymakers have called for broadening access to Algebra in eighth grade. In partnership with AIR, the UChicago Consortium is examining whether longer-term course taking and achievement outcomes associated with taking eighth-grade Algebra differ for average and lower-performing students, who may be less prepared than their more advanced peers to take Algebra in eighth grade.

For more information about this study, contact the Principal Investigator: